House should 'scrutinize' candidates for keys posts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Ryaas Rasyid, a member of a
\ncommittee reviewing the five political laws which govern the
\ncurrent political system, said the House of Representatives
\nshould be given the right to scrutinize candidates chosen by the
\nPresident to hold prominent positions.<\/p>\n
Ryaas, rector of the Institute for Public Administration, told
\na discussion here Saturday that such a mechanism would help
\nsingle out the best people for important positions.<\/p>\n
\"House members should have the right to hold hearings with the
\ncandidates,\" Ryaas said.<\/p>\n
Ryaas said that as a member of a special team that was
\npreparing a review of the five political laws, he had proposed
\nthe idea to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
According to Ryaas, while the President still has the
\nprerogative to choose particular individuals, legislators should
\nbe allowed to screen them before they are formally appointed.<\/p>\n
Positions which should be screened by the House include
\nministerial posts, that of chief justice, head of the Supreme
\nAudit Agency and head of the Supreme Advisory Council, Ryaas
\nargued.<\/p>\n
Under the current system, the House has little say on who the
\nPresident appoints to fill the country's most important
\npositions.<\/p>\n
Former president Soeharto in March was criticized for being
\nnepotistic when he appointed his daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana
\nto the post of minister of social services and golfing buddy
\nMohammad \"Bob\" Hasan as minister of industry and trade.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie dropped the two from his Reform and
\nDevelopment Cabinet but did retain 20 members from the old
\nCabinet.<\/p>\n
Ryaas also hinted yesterday that among proposals being debated
\nwas a requirement that the government must notify the House prior
\nto making any crucial decisions.<\/p>\n
\"The government, for instance, should consult with members of
\nthe House before signing a foreign debt agreement,\" Ryaas said
\nduring a discussion held by the National Council of Islamic
\nStudents Alumni (KAHMI).<\/p>\n
Ryaas said the new law would enable the House to be more
\nactive in initiating its amendment rights.<\/p>\n
The government and the House are expected to finish their
\nreviews of the five political laws -- which cover mass
\norganizations, the role and function of the House and the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, political parties and Golkar, and
\nregional administrations and elections -- within a six-month
\nperiod before the People's Consultative Assembly holds an
\nextraordinary session, which will be a precursor to the promised
\ngeneral election next year.<\/p>\n
Earlier during the discussion, former minister of finance
\nMar'ie Muhammad said the country would be economically unable to
\nget back on its feet unless an atmosphere of political certainty
\nwas created.<\/p>\n
\"We need legitimization of the ruling power and a lessening of
\npolitical risk, which is very high at the moment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the current business climate in Indonesia
\nwas not conducive since it contained a high degree of political
\nrisk. He added that one way to resolve this was to have a
\ndefinite timetable for elections, and not just mere rhetoric
\nabout polls being held as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
However, he warned that an effort to create certainty and
\nreduce political risk should not be interpreted as trying to
\nmaintain the status quo. (byg\/mds)<\/p>",
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